Do You Sleep in Your Masks? I Do.

Have done for years. Not the permanently oogy or flaky when dry ones, obviously. But the absorbable ones - oh yes!

I've done this for years. I never thought it was a big deal. Then I saw a review for a mask designed for sleeping in, and last week, Paula Begoun observed that if you sleep in a mask, the goodies may penetrate better (I paraphrase).

I began doing this as a young mum - being able to go to the loo in peace was a wonder, so time to luxuriate in a nice mask was a 'castles in the air' type deal. So, at night when I cleaned my face, I'd slap on a mask and fall into bed for a couple of hours. Then I'd get up, see to the child(ren) and go back for another couple of hours. When the sun rose (all too soon), I'd wash my face, moisturise and sunscreen, and away we'd go.

This was multi-tasking at it's best: using sleep time to attend to important self care.

I did that for years (decades even). Then, when I ran out of masks while somewhere on the road, I just forgot.

When I started back up again recently, I fell right back into the habit. No thought, it just happened.
And my skin is so much smoother and softer for it. I'd forgotten how much I love masks.




I don't use fancy expensive masks, just whatever I can buy cheaply (never tried sheet masks, don't intend to, I get claustrophobic if my face is covered). Currently using Kmart cheapies: Chocolate and Chia mask ($8), and a Rosehip, Jojoba Oil & Shea Butter ($3). I do break out my beloved BFB if my skin is really dry/cranky.

Next on the agenda - a soak in the tub.  In about 6 months time. We are already in the 40's (celcius - 100+ Farenheit) so no way am I going there just now. Til then, I'll keep up the sleeping self-care. And maybe try some of the other Kmart masks....... definitely stocking up on the Rosehip, Jojoba & Shea Butter one.

* I am aware that cheap masks are not for everyone. Some people don't like them because they ARE cheap. Others have skin issues with them. Nevertheless, using a creamy mask while sleeping is not dependent on price: just make sure it has absorbed somewhat before you go to bed.

I Want a Celebrity Makeup Item - WTH?!

This never, ever happens. I am against celebrity cosmetics/fragrances as a rule. I just don't like them. It is difficult to articulate the 'why', apart from celebrity fragrances all seem to smell the same. As in JLo fragrances all smell the same, Beyonce's all smell the same etc.

I can look at the bottles/packaging/palettes and go: "Ooooh, pretty!" but not want to buy.

And then along comes Queen RiRi (if I *must* acknowledge someone in pop culture as the Queen of Pop Culture, it will be BadGirlRiRi, not QueenBloodyBey)....

One seems at least semi-real, able to laugh at herself, and like she'd be a good laugh, while the other's life seems to be an eternal photoshoot. And I suspect that, unlike many celebrities who turn up and go 'Yes' 'No', 'Maybe' to other people's efforts,  Rihanna has quite a bit of input into the things that bear her name. Admittedly, it IS just a feeling. Anyhoo, I digress....

I've been keeping an eye on Fenty Beauty and Savage X Fenty (lingerie) since Rihanna launched both. I like the look of both. Fenty Beauty is a bit more - shiny - than I am used to, but I could work with it, I though.

Now I know I could. I saw this review of the Killawatt Foil palette, and I was GONE!! Not a fan of shiny, but neither is Nicola, who wrote the review. Yes, she uses highlighter and occasionally sparkle, but full on knock-your-eye-out shiny, no. Although she is expanding her makeup horizons in the latter half of this year.

Nicola inspired my desire for this palette by showing that you can blend down the shades, as well as building them up. SCORE!

Now all I need is the cash to get my hands on it. Because of course it is bloody Limited Edition!

I Need to Up My Game...

Not too much, but a little bit.

I really need to get serious with body moisturising - the summer has started early and my skin is woefully dry. Not like it gets in winter (that is scary). It's a different kind of dry: winter dry I can fix with a daily moisturising session. This is - different. I could soak in moisturiser all day, and still my skin wouldn't be right.

My feet are suffering the worst - thankfully I have a small tub of body butter but I am going to need more. Apparently most people get dry, cracked heels in the winter. Not me, summer all the way!

I am also going to need to watch how my hair copes with the heat - even though I wear a hat 99.9% of the time I am out, I can almost guarantee I will get bleaching.

I'm going to do masks twice a week for summer: the dry, dust and sweat will cause problems otherwise. Unless we actually get a wet season, then I will be in real trouble....

Contemplating a hya-thingy serum from The Ordinary. Really got to get some research done there.....

Well...... I Have Shopped a Bit (By My Standards)

And sadly, most of it has been from Woolies - not that there is anything wrong with Woolies (more on our 'local' store later), but imagine the strife I am going to get into on the way home from Tassie 👀

Obviously, I can shop there too (Big W, Kmart, Coles, various salons and boutiques), but I have to survive Melbourne and Brisbane airports.  On the way in, I will shop sunglasses - I have a 'thing' for Maui Jims - had done for years....

So, in the past few months I have bought:

Chocolate and Chia mask
BFB - replacement; never again will I be without this
Aldi Olive Oil and Green Tea scrub - new and will be buying a backup
MUD Lipstick - Pure Passion
MUD Blush - Pink
MUD Translucent Powder
MUD CC Cream
Revlon Kiss Balm - Coconut
Revlon Kiss Balm - Berry Burst
A powder brush for the blush/powder
A random no-brand mascara.

I plan more masks (sheets), The Ordinary hysomething acid serum and a Rimmel concealer. The sheet mask I can get through Woolies, The Ordinary and Rimmel I will locate on my wanderings; the Rimmel is probably available in Roma for that matter.

Now, before I head off, my local Woolies. These guys are great - everyone I have dealt with has been fantastically helpful and patient. The Online Manager - Sam - is a truly wonderful example of what customer service should be, and a lovely person to boot. While she will not see this, I wanted to put it out into the universe, because without her, my life would be a lot tougher...

ETA: In Tassie. Went to Kmart, walked out with 2 things, 1 planned (nude flats) the other semi-planned (Rosehip Oil & Shea Butter Mask). Grand total of purchases - $8AUD!

Another Edit: Went with J (son) to Kmart to get a vacuum cleaner, and did some more planned purchasing - a hat for work. My last one (straw) did not survive Basher the Work Ute (no roof/windows/suspension/brakes) in whom we belt around at 100kph at least twice a week. This one should, once I pad out the inside so it will fit my head (I have a small skull). Cost: $7!

Oh, and the Revlon Kiss Balm -fabulous! Wash of colour (Berry Burst, Coconut is clear), stays on through cups of tea (yep, I swiped and sipped). Needed a top-off after lunch (MASSIVE fish and chips).

A Creature of Habit

I realised last night, as I stood under the shower watching mud run down the drain, that I have become that most mundane of things: a creature of habit.

How did this happen? I have never really been interested in set schedules or routines, I adhere to them because society demands it. Otherwise, I could care less.

When I thought about it, this whole 'routine' thing came about because of environmental factors. It is uber dusty here, and dry. My skin and hair forever have a fine grit of dirt, which is worse after a windy day or a lick run, even if I wear a beanie to keep the ick out of my hair. So I started doing particular 'beauty chores' on set days.

Hair used to be washed every week to ten days, and I never used conditoner. Not for nearly 5 years. Now I do: I still wash my hair in (homemade) soap, but I do it twice a week, and I condition both times.

My face still gets washed morning and night, moisturiser both ends of the day (sorbolene mixed with olive, rice bran and grapeseed oils) but I have segued from wipes in the morning to a face washer. I have a few, and their sole purpose is to wash my face in the morning. I still have wipes, I use them when we are travelling, and to take my makeup off when I wear it, before washing. Night face washing is done in the shower, with that homemade soap.

Mondays and Thursdays, I use a green tea and olive oil facial scrub (thank you Aldi). These are lick run days, so these are the days I do my hair, unless we are going into town the next day, then it's a Tuesday wash, and a blowdry. Grocery days are always Wednesday: Woolies have less pick-ups on Wednesdays.

Masks are weekly: usually Friday. I forgot tonight, because I was working, so will do it tomorrow night instead. I like to use a mask Friday because I won't be back on the lick run until Monday, so my skin gets 2 whole days to benefit from the goodies in the mask.

The only thing that hasn't changed is my sunscreen addiction. I've been sunscreening every day for 30+ years, and it is so ingrained, I forgot to add it here. Every day, no matter the weather, or the time I surface, I wash, moisturise and sunscreen every part of me that will be exposed to the sun; even in winter in Tasmania. Yes, it is possible to be THAT pathetic.

I am kind of enjoying having a routine; it helps me keep track of the days, which can be difficult out here. Plus, it makes me mindful of what I am doing, and I need to do that more.

The Sunscreen Post

The inspiration for this post was Katy-Rose over at Modly Chic (a blog I have loved for - a long time), and a post she recently did on sunscreen.

I've been using sunscreen for..... over 3 decades. Closer to 3.5 decades I reckon. My mum went bonkers on it when I was in Grade 6 or 7. Before we moved out of Southern Hell to Northern What-the-Hell.  At the time, no-one wore sunscreen. NO-ONE!!! Baby oil and coconut oil were huge - anything with an SPF was scarcer than hen's teeth. But my mum found it. And enforced its use.

While I thought then she was off her rocker (I wanted coconut oil, loved the smell. Mum, not so much. The smell of coconut turns her green about the gills). I resisted strenuously. And lost. I hated having to be even more uncool than I already was, but now I am so very grateful she enforced sunscreen. As a result of her militant attitude I have very minimal sun damage, my eyesight is great (I wear sunglasses 365 days, have done since I was 17), and my skin is in great condition (that may be partly genetic, but also lifestyle).

What Mum knew, and I didn't was that there was (and is) a whopping hole in the ozone over Tasmania - no UV blocking. So those who were not using an SPF were exposed to UVB rays (these are the scary ones) at full force. We started, way back then, with SPF4. Now, I use SPF 50+ (blocks 98% of UVB rays).

I no longer live in Tasmania, but I still use sunscreen every day. I go out early with the dogs (about 90 minutes) and get my daily hit of sun exposure for Vitamin D (I have had deficiencies before and am at constant risk - thank you genetics!), come back in, clean my face and sunscreen everything that will be exposed to the sun. In the summer, I wear a hat with a big brim to protect my face; I tend to rely on that to protect my face, rather than reapplying. My body, I reapply every 3 to 4 hours; anything that is exposed to the sun gets sunscreened. My hands get redone after every wash. Even now, in winter...

No matter how much sunscreen I use, any part of me exposed to the sun will tan. I go black in places; not dark brown - black. Other parts, just dark brown. Still others, golden. No-sun-ever bits, lily-white.

I am not fussy about the sunscreen I use - just so long as it is the highest SPF I can lay hands on (50+). Currently, I am using an Aldi (supermarket in-house brand) one. As a child, I used whatever Mum could get. As an adult, I started out with Banana Boat, but that broke me out after a while. I switched to Hamilton's - same deal. Cancer Council sunscreen gave me a rash. Invisible Zinc was the best thing ever in its original formulation; then they changed it, and it became impossible to get to absorb. About 15 years ago, I bought a Coles cheapy (4 kids, all needing sunscreen) - a litre doesn't go far in those circumstances, and one day I used that on my face; I had run out of my IZ. And I was sold.

Aside from being a high SPF, my requirements for sunscreen are pretty simple; don't break me out. Don't be oily looking/feeling. Don't be drying. No heavy fragrances. No 'heavy' face feel. And do not mess up my makeup when I wear it - this was a BIG problem back in the 80's and 90's - sunscreen and foundation did not go well together.

I have never in my life relied on the SPF in makeup to protect my skin; most are low (15+ if you are lucky) and almost none are broad spectrum. Broad spectrum sunscreens offer protection from both UVA and UVB rays (while UVB is the truly deadly one, UVA isn't great for you).

I cannot, for the life of me, understand how people in Australia do not use a proper sunscreen - a broad spectrum one. And wear sunsafe hats and sunglasses. There are far more attractive options about these days, and with the education programs, no excuses for not wearing a broad spectrum high SPF sunscreen.

MUD - The Verdict

I have to say, I was surprised at myself, I used the makeup almost every day I was away. I did take a couple of days off, because I was feeling 'Meh!' and I just couldn't be bothered. And the day we did the final run home.

So, I was away for 12 days, and wore makeup for 9. I was very impressed. No colour change, no patchiness, no 'tired makeup' look. It all lasted (with the exception of the lipstick - no mirror=no checks) all day every day.

We're talking 6 a.m. til well after 7 p.m. I did re-do the night we went out for dinner, because I wanted a fresh face to match the rest of me.

The smell was still there in the CC cream, but I noticed it less. As I said earlier, I think that was in part at least due to my avoidance of fragranced items as a rule.

I was also impressed with the Rimmel eyeshadow palette. It stayed put and true to colour. No primer, no assistance other than a swipe of the CC cream across the lids - and some translucent powder over that. No creasing, no fallout with application, no transfer or fade.

One really good thing; I was forever blowing my nose in the mornings (cold wind on the ocean), and normally this would see my base transfer to the tissue. None of that with the BB cream. I checked immediately we got back to the in-laws unit (well, immediately after 'Hello' hugs with FIL).

For application I used my fingers for the CC cream, an old el cheapo e/s brush for my eyes, and an equally old puff for the powder. Which makes the results even more impressive.

I am now contemplating buying the 2 e/s palettes. And maybe a blush (and a brush to go with it). And also maybe some more lipsticks - because I need more than one shade to test. Right?

Testing MUD Cosmetics...

I posted the other week about my planned purchases. Well, I revised that list, and went to work with what I had, in terms of accessibility.

Last week, I placed my 6-weekly grocery order, and I got me some makeup. I got MUD (MakeUp Design) and Rimmel from Woolworths. Cheap (Rimmel was 1/2 price), so no major issues if it all went to Hell, or was utter rubbish.

3 days in, and I have to say, I am rather impressed. The BB cream (MUD) was around $8AUD, and I love it! My only complaint is the smell, but I only have to deal with that briefly, so we are all good. I've worked out that the reason the smell (think plastic fruity smell) got to me so much is that everything I use is fragrance-free due to my husband having emphysema (fragrance affects his breathing badly), so that first whiff was HUGE! Day 3, it was minimal, because I'd adjusted.

Anyway, the products: CC Cream (light to medium) $8AUD, pressed translucent powder $4AUD, lipstick in Pure Passion $4.50AUD, and the Rimmel is the Calm Down & Wear Gold e/s palette. And I am very happy with all of it. The lipstick is the only 'iffy' thing, and that's because I can't say how long the colour lasts (I've been out every day, and not near mirrors to check). Plus, I've only worn it 2 days, as my lips are suffering from the week-long run of -5 (Celcius) days we had right before we left home for the coast.

Day 1: Up at 1.30, face on at 2.00, out the door by 2.30. That is in the a.m. - cold and dark in south-central Qld. I did the whole lot (with a random e/l & mascara) and left it all day. Wandered into our room around 5 that evening, and it was all still there, no patchiness or colour change. I'd not touched it all day.

Day 2: I was running late (we are walking with hubby's mum in the mornings), so I did my face 5 minutes before leaving at 6.45 a.m. Minor - very minor - transfer to the (cheek height) collar of my cream puffer vest - came off with a wipe. Day 3, I did it half an hour before leaving, no transfer. Lipstick had no transfer onto a cup of tea 2 minutes after application (I truly wasn't awake), but lack of mirrors means I can't say how long it lasted.

I have had no patchiness, colour change or 'heaviness' at all over the 3 days. Each day, when I wander in the door, I check, and I still look reasonably polished. I'd look better if I powdered through the day. And given one of those days was 16+ hours, that's impressive. Granted, this is winter in Queensland, so I am not sweating and humidity is low, but still, I am impressed. For me, this is a major breakthrough in makeup.

I've Been Doing It Wrong!

For years - decades even. On the advice of 'experts' - MAs and SAs. No wonder I never got the results I was looking for! Not that I can blame them; they were following their training, but still - how much happier would my relationship with cosmetics be now had I known this years ago?!

Let's start with concealer.

Dark under-eye circles. At different times, I have looked like I have twin shiners; since childhood. I've had maybe half-a-dozen black eyes in my life, and never 2 at the same time. Well, ok, once; when my sister smashed me in the face as hard as she could with a wooden hearth brush & broke my nose. But that's the only time. And a story for another blog. (NB: That is the ONLY time I've had twin black eyes; and only once of the twice they were caused by people. The rest? Blood pressure, meet floor...)

Concealer should be the same colour as your skin toner. So I was told. No. A shade or two lighter is ok. *le sigh* That would have made life easier; matching foundation to my skin tone is hard enough, without trying to match concealer.

The colour of the concealer is another thing I am (still) confused about; yellow to combat purple circles. I think. Orange or preach if they are brown. I think. Green for redness (not an under-eye issue I have, except in allergy season, or after watching The Notebook or Once Were Warriors).

Confused? You betcha! But wait, there's more!

When to apply concealer - I always understood it was before foundation. The experts disagree. Or agree. Or a bit of both. Aaaarrrgggghhhh!!!

How to apply it. Just on the circles? No. An inverted triangle onto your cheekbones. Right - that would explain a lot. It wasn't me. Or rather, it was, but it wasn't just me...

And then there's powder.

This is easy; match to your foundation shade. Or family (light, medium, dark).

No.

Translucent. Looks white but isn't. Blends in for a polished finish. And you can apply and reapply through the day to control oil and smooth your look because there is no colour! Again, something it would have been useful to know years ago.

And you 'bake it' -  pack it on over your concealered bits, leave for 5 - 10 minutes, brush (fluff) off the excess with a brush loaded with a powder foundation/finishing powder.

Feh! Anyone else exhausted by all this?

Skin Specifics

I have long described my skin as 'cranky'. Because, like the rest of me, it is.

When I was younger, it was oily. Super oily with HUGE pores. The only blessing? I never suffered from acne - the occasional hormonal breakout, but never severe. I've always had dark under-eye circles; as a child I often looked like I had twin shiners!

The oil-slick continued until I was 28, when I had a hysterectomy. Then things really changed. I had to re-learn my skin. From oil-slick to desert dry in one easy (!) step. And no more monthly breakouts. Now it was stress that did it; but rather than big blind pimples, it was white heads and the odd blackhead.

As I head for 50, not much has changed, although my pores are finer. I have wrinkles, and in the last 12 months, pigmentation has started to appear in patches. There's a name for it, my sister told me (she has it too), but I've forgotten what it is. The worst is on the middle of my forehead, although I have it on my chin, upper lip (looks like a mo' on a bad day), and my cheeks, around my eyes.

Concerns? Besides the pigmentation and the wrinkles - not a lot. I'm past worrying about the dark circles; I have NEVER found a concealer that works, so I've given that up as a lost cause.

Pigmentation - my sister is being my guinea pig, with no luck as yet. I'll live with it til a miracle happens.

Wrinkles - fact of aging and moving my face. I'll live with those too.

Dryness - now THIS is something I do constant battle with. My bespoke (homemade & cheap) winter moisturiser is working for now, but as it gets colder, who knows. I know that whatever I use has to be lightweight but rich as thick, heavy stuff will make my skin feel 'ick' and look muddy.

I'd also love to find a liquid foundation that matches my skin tone, gives light-to-medium coverage, doesn't run off or vanish into my skin in an hour, and stays true to colour. I've long had this problem - great colour match initially, and then, Boom! it's a totally different shade, and I look like a clown. Or it vanishes - usually in patches. And I look like a clown.

One thing I would like to get done, which is actually not skin-specific, but is vanity-related, is teeth whitening. Not the celebrity blue-white, just a few shades whiter. And maybe, if it was possible, my brows lasered into shape, so I never (or rarely) have to endure waxing again...

No more 'Avon Calling'

In February this year, Avon announced it would withdraw from the Australian & New Zealand markets as part of it's plan for long-term sustainable profit.

According to reports, no-one on the ground in these countries saw it coming. Although, the writing may have been on the mirror; the US arm was sold off in 2016. The US is a far bigger market than the Anitpodes could ever be. Still, it is sad.

Avon has long been a part of my beauty journey; my mum loved the original Skin So Soft - I remember the bubble bath from when I was a kid. My first 'grown up' perfume was Avon; my sister had a Strawberry Shortcake one. My MIL introduced me to Imari. I learnt that liquid eyeliner was NOT my thing through Avon, even the 'pen' ones were a fail for me - my hands aren't steady enough. Most of my early skincare in my teens and twenties was Avon; ditto my makeup. I was a happy chickadee when Avon came calling.

I loved Avon. It gave me a chance to try different skincare products at a bargain price; their vitamin C serum was great, albeit sticky. So was their green serum (forgot the name). Both were around well before the current offerings - at least 15 years ago. And they were GOOD!

The same went for makeup; no-one was every going to mistake Avon products as having the quality of high-end brands, but they gave us the option to play at a reasonable price point. And for the most part, the quality was there.

THAT was their genius; that and the fact that we could play with pretties that were delivered to our door, with no pressure to buy through 'parties', and, as often as not, gave us a chance to have a coffee and chat with another adult - an absolute God-send for a harrassed and harried mother of 5. I could shop in my trackies; I didn't have to get dressed, wrangle the kids into decent clothes, out the door and into town, only to be too exhausted to enjoy the shopping. It came to me & I could browse in those few spare moments I had; no scheduling required. And the products were, as a rule, good. Not top-notch, but not crap either; chemist shelves are full of these types of brands.

In later years, the company expanded into other things; clothing, homewares, toys, luggage etc. Jewellery had been there for years. Most of these lines were - ordinary. But again, they were cheap, and served a purpose if you approached it the right way. Buy a cheap pair of Avon shoes in a particular style, love them, buy a more expensive pair. Better that than to buy an exxy pair to start with, and hate them. If the Avon ones sucked, you killed them off, or gave them to Salvos; they were cheap enough that it didn't hurt too much.

I haven't bought Avon in years (moving all the time makes having an 'Avon lady' difficult), but I often thought I would like to; just knowing they were there made me feel - safe.

BB Cream or Tinted Moisturiser?

This is the Question of the Moment - which way to go?

I've used TMs in the past, with success. But I'm liking what I hear about BBs.  Decisions, decisions.

As I said elsewhere - in Foundation Files I think - I'm currently using a mineral powder. Problem is, with my pigmentation, unless I really go to town (well, my version thereof) I can't get the coverage I need. So I need more.

I'm leaning to a BB cream. TMs are all well and good, but their main goal is moisturising. And with my oil & cream concoction, I don't need more moisture. Odds are, if I went to a TM, it'd slide off, because I am not going to give up the one for the other - I love what my moisturiser is doing for me, and I don't see the point in using that 99% of the time, and a TM every now and again. The risk of my skin going 'Ack!' is too great. Mess not with what is working.

A lot of BBs are meant to moisturise as well. Some have added ingredients to boost the skin (so do TMs). But they are also meant for covering blemishes, so theoretically, they should do what I need more than a TM.

For BBs, Choice tells me Natio (Aussie, cruelty free, cheap) or Garnier (not Aussie, perhaps not cruelty free, cheap) are the way to go. Palmers (not Aussie, (aybe cruelty free, cheap) also rated well, although it appears it was a bit 'thin'. Natio's fragrance was a concern for some testers. The Olay one is also supposedly quite good. Maybe Mud from Woolies (really cheap) as a trial is the best starting point - I can get it, play with it here on the station, work out the pros and cons, then head out into the real world. Or not.

One thing though, that really irks me is this: many BBs and TMs do not have Broad Spectrum SPF, most have an SPF of 15+ only, and WTH is wrong with these companies? We're in Australia - skin cancer capital of the world!!! Don't believe me? According to the Cancer Council of Australia, we have 2 to 3 times the rate of skin cancers of the UK, US and Canada. So where's the SPF Broad Spectrum?

I should point out here that I know the SPF in makeup is not enough to protect your face anyway (need to reapply regularly for that), but still, a lot of people think they are doing a good thing for their skin buying a product with SPF, and these products are  - telling fibs by omission.

I'll report back on what I decided, what I purchased (probably Woolies, I can have that in less than 2 weeks, the rest will be 4 at least), and how I go.

Planning My Purchases

So I have 2 trips coming up - 1 in July to the Sunshine Coast (driving) and one to Tassie in October (flying from BNE). Both will be full-on once we hit the ground; limited time + family = come home for a holiday/to relax.

As I will be in an area with fully-stocked chemists in July, I plan a few minor purchases including a serum. I am looking at a lactic acid one; my skin can be reactive, so I have to be careful. Specifically, this one from The Ordinary....

Great reviews, and a very, very good price (less than $15). I don't want to spend a lot on a serum, in case it doesn't work, or sends my skin off the deep end.


I also plan to buy a mask, or 3. Or 10. Ok, so probably one (space remains an issue I need to be aware of). I'll probably just buy a chemisty/supermarkety one - Neutrogena or something. Because I am in ever-changing climatic conditions I need an all-rounder. Or 2 - one for moisture, one for clearing out the crap/tightening. I'm thinking these:

Both have great reviews, are reasonably priced, and are small enough that I won't worry about them going off (again, climatic concerns rather than lack of use).


The other great thing with all 3 products is that they are available at national retailers and online. Accessibility is important when you don't know where you will be month to month.

In October, I go through 2 major airports BNE and Melbourne. Shopping options there include MAC and Mecca. Tassie is not-so-hot for shopping. So maybe I will save my pennies and buy myself a nice eyeliner or two? Probably at Mecca - they have Urban Decay. I fell in love with their 24/7 pencils when I tried them in the States (killed off 2 already). There are 38 shades to choose from!!!! Just have to remember to stay neutral; brights are pretty, but I just about never wear them... So far I like Corrupt, Roach, Smog, Hustle and Mushroom. Or I could go cheaper, for something like 16 Brand?

Or maybe something really luxurious like L'Occitane? Oh yes! I had a hand cream from them once, it was so very, very nice.

Sigh - so many decisions..........

The Foundation Files

Foundation has long been the Achilles heel of my cosmetic journey. I have struggled with it for as long as I can remember; formulations change, but the results rarely do.

My skin has, as I mentioned in another post, gone from uber-oily to desert dry. I have developed fine lines and pigmentation patches as I have aged. So those are issues I need to address now, just to keep it interesting.

I've tried liquids, creams, cream to powders, sticks, mousse, pressed powders, mineral powders (loose & pressed), tinted moisturisers. I have yet to try: BB creams, airbrush or cushion foundation.

I've applied with fingers, sponges in every conceivable shape and texture including silicon (with and without handles), puff-type things, rollers, a variety of brushes and a weird towel-type thing (found online, shipped from Hong Kong).

I've run the gamut of oil-free, matte, oil, based. I've gone for minimal coverage, medium coverage and heavy coverage options. High-end and low end. In the middle too. Some have worked better than others. But I always have the same problems. Every. damn. time. The only difference is how long it takes to get these issues, and whether or not I can take a break, and get it resolved that way.


One of three things happens with every foundation I have tried.

It fades/vanishes in patches. We're not talking a bit less polished at the end of the day. We're talking a on-my-face-when-I-left-the-house-and-patchy-2-hours-later kind of deal.

The colour changes. It looks great in the bottle. The SA does a test, I wander around for 5-10 minutes, or get the whole shebang done; a full face. I look and feel fantastic. I walk out of the shop (usually with both the foundation and high hopes). I wander home, look in the mirror and I am an oompah-loompah. It's gone orange! Or brown. Or patchy. Or a combination of all three. Back it goes.

It goes cakey. This is probably the most frustrating, as it takes the longest to occur. This is the one I have had the least, as it tends only to happen with heavy coverage products.

One reason I have trouble, I think, is that I have struck a few SAs who don't follow what I am saying. They'll haul out a dark shade, say 'This is the one'. I'll say 'Errr... no' and they'll get huffy.  This has happened on numerous occasions.  It gives me the irrits. The rest is just my skin/system. It is what it is - cranky as all get-out, and unlikely to change.

Of all the foundations I have tried, the pressed powder mineral is probably the most stable. I still have the fade issues, but I can carry the compact to counter those. The colour-change is still a challenge, so I have 2 shades. I test the day before, at home, and see what happens.

I'd love to be able to wear those gorgeous dewy looking foundations I see on others, but I somehow think I am likely to remain cursed. So for now, and the forseeable future, I will stick with my pressed minerals, and keep hoping that one day, my system will settle down, and my skin along with it. Imagine the fun I could have if that happened!

Les Meteorites

Look at all that pretty!!! How could anyone not want that on their dresser?

Now, I know I said elsewhere I am not ever going to buy a highlighter; but these aren't highlighters- they are Meteorites. They illuminate rather than highlight, and their actual job is to correct. I think.

To be totally honest, I don't really care. I just like the pretty. I have read that they smell incredible; that would be an added bonus to the pretty packaging, and the pretty inside the packaging.

Now, these babies are expensive no matter where in the world you live, but by all accounts they are worth it. If you can bring yourself to actually use them - which is where I would fall down; they are too pretty to disturb!




If I were to purchase, I'd get beads, rather than a palette. Ok, let's be honest; if I was rich, I'd get beads and palettes.  And as many different packaging designs as I could lay hands on. Because, as we know, I am all about the pretty! And Guerlain does pretty so very well...

Wishlist Post - Updated 16 June 2018

The idea of this blog is to put together, in one place, all the stuff I have loved, or would like to try. And so, I'm going to start here and now (this is probably the first post of many);

Makeup
Guerlain Meteorites - preferably the balls, not the palette. Because they are prettier.
Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick - had this decades ago, need a re-test.
Rihanna's Fenty Makeup - reviews have been good, and the colours look good
Wet 'n' Wild Colour Icon Baked Blush - I don't use blush, but it's embossed with a hummingbird!

How could I not want these?!

E.L.F. Gold Eyeshadow Palette (Sunset) - I'd actually use this
Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner pencils - all 38 shades (did I mention that e/l is my weakness?!)
MAC Powerpoint e/l pencils - same deal as UD
MAC Fluidline & Chromaline - this stuff is brilliant!
MAC Extra Dimension e/s in Sea Worship
Harlotte lipstick - I loved the original formula
Pixi Weylie Hoang Dimensional Eye Creator Kit - never heard of the brand, but damn! this is purty...


Hair (This will be a short, sweet list)
Prose Customisable shampoo & conditioner - they actually make bespoke hair care!! Want it NOW!


Skin
Anything and everything Clarins
Ditto Ole Henriksen
Fresh Rose Mask - real rose petals? Yes please!
Peter Thomas Roth Hungarian Thermal Water Mineral-Rich Atomic Heat Mask - for the name alone
Elizabeth Arden Ceramides - adored these when I tried them way back when

Ceramides - so very, very good

Fragrance (This list will grow and grow and grow... I'll never try/use any of them, but I can dream)

Irish Leather - for the name! I blame Brando.
Lolita Lempicka Original - loved this, would have to sniff again.
Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Ylang et Vanille -  I used to have this, loved it
Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Cherry Blossom - love cherry blossom
Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Tiare Mimosa
Shalimar - loved this, would have to sniff again. It changed from the one Nan had, wasn't as good.
LouLou Blue - same deal as the Lempicka
Pure Poison   - as above. But I love the bottle.

 

Shiny!

Clinique Aromatics Elixir - my memory says this smelled like honey
Clinique Aromatics Elixir Black Cherry - it might smell like cherries - love the scent of cherries
L'Artisan Mure et Musc - From memory I loved this. Blackberries spring to mind - gourmandy??
Dior Dune - worth a re-sniff, memory says 'Yes!'
Estee Lauder Pleasures - memory says heavy floral...
Hanae Mori - been on the list for years....
Lanvin Arpege - my sister used this, and as I recall, I quite liked it
Chopard Wish - sounds nice, and the bottle is pretty. I *think* I tried this a long time ago...


Products/Brands I'll Avoid
Benefit - never seen anything that made me want to buy
Highlighters - overused & wrongly used by so many. Why people, why?!

Highlighters - case in point...

Liquid e/l - no, just no. Too hard basket...
Any gourmand scent, except some vanillas (and maybe the Mure et Musc) - not my thing
Red lipstick
Anything Kat von D - love her aesthetic, not so her anti-vax stance. Principles before pretties.
Chanel fragrances - too heavy
Any celebrity fragrances - as I said in my opening post, every one in a line smells the same to me
D&G Light Blue fragrance - hurt my sinuses
Mugler Angel - too sweet (and it's foody)
Arden Green Tea, Blue Grass or Sunflowers - smelt like cat pee on me & took days to wash/fade off
Calvin Klein fragrances - never met one I liked
Moschino fragrances - same deal, but I adore the Olive Oyl-style bottles they often use

What's not to love?

Clinique Happy - not so much
St Laurent Baby Doll - sickly sweet
Lip gloss - any and all. Sticky, shiny & fady for the most part. Not my thing at all.

How could I not want these?

Keeping it Personal...

When it comes to makeup/skincare shopping - heck, any kind of shopping, except groceries - I am an 'in person where possible' shopper. A bit of a challenge, living in the middle of nowhere (if you're interested, Google 'Roma, Qld', then put yourself 3 hours of bad road SW - that's me - nothing here but 'roo & red dust).

A 'good' section of red dirt... even the locals drive out only when they absolutely have to.

The proliferation of beauty retailers, blogs and YouTubers has, theoretically, made purchasing sight-unseen (or unfelt) easier; you can log in, check out what others have to say about  a product, and shop around the globe for the best price. But I am still not convinced. No-one out there has my skin, and even I, who live in it 24/7/365, can't always predict how things will go.

Environmental factors play a HUGE part in how my skin behaves. Cold weather - drier skin. Heat and dust - breakouts (I really need to get on top of that this summer, if we don't get a Wet Season). Humidity - my skin is generally fine, but my hair goes to Hades. The internal environment also plays havoc: sudden high stress means big, sore whiteheads on my chin and nose. Sustained stress means my skin will start to look 'tired' quickly.

I also like the personal touch - talking to an actual person. Having a chance to read their body language; I want to deal with someone who gives a damn. And I want them to see my skin. I know most SAs aren't trained cosmeticians or beauticians, but they will have brand knowledge. Which, combined with my knowledge of my skin, lifestyle and preferences should see us getting it close to right.

The same applies to makeup; I do not like glitter or lots of sparkle. A light shimmer is fine. And while swatches can give an idea of these factors and the colour (is that swatch 1 swipe, or 3?), there's no skin-feel, or hint of lasting-power, and what works on someone pale won't work on me. Heck, what works on my sister often won't work on me!

 Way too glittery for me...

So I like to shop in person as much as I can. My idea of heaven would be a week in a Melbourne or Sydney (with unlimited funds, and equal amounts of storage space at home), hitting Sephora (only in Sydney I think), David Jones & Myer. And anywhere else that sold skincare and makeup; chemists, supermarkets, specialist shops. Testing products, collecting samples and just playing generally.

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm

As a beauty-obsessed broke girl in my late teens and early 20's (in the late 80's and early 90's), there were a few products that were always on my radar. Clarins as a brand had always been there (Nan may have been a dirt farmer's wife, but she knew her luxury brands, even if she couldn't afford them), and BFB had cult status in the beauty industry. It was right up there with Elizabeth Arden's 8 Hour Cream (which I've never tried) and ceramides (loved these when I tried a sample, way back when).

Even now, as the 21st century heads into it's twenties, BFB is still raved about by beauty babes. I have read reviews that say it is an 'outdated product'. These make me laugh - BFB was launched in Australia in 1980, and it's still going strong; AHAs, BHAs, various oils, nightingale poo, skincare in a pill have all had their day. Currently, it's serums and masks that deposit nutrients into your skin. Oh, and meteorite ingredients - yup, skincare made from space rocks. BFB makes no claims to be 'cool' 'new' 'exciting' but it still holds a solid market share, just as it has since its inception. Why? Because, outdated or not - this stuff rocks.

I'm not sure how it does its magic, and I don't care; all I care about is the results. If I have an event, or a big day coming up, I smother my face in BFB before bed, and the next day my skin feels smoother and tighter and looks brighter. I've read that other people use it under their daily makeup, like a primer. My skin is - cranky - so I tend to just stick with 'the usual suspects' (moisturiser & sunscreen) when I wear makeup.

The other thing I really like about this product is that it's not expensive - $65 for 50 ml SOUNDS like a lot, but for the amount I use, and how I feel afterwards, it's worth every cent. Plus, as will all good things, a little goes a long way.

Long live Beauty Flash Balm!

What It's All About

This is my beauty file blog; the place I will list all the pretty things I would love to try/own. Skincare, makeup & fragrances specifically. I'll probably also share beauty and fashion related posts from other blogs, such as Beautifully Glossy, J's Everyday Fashion, Kendi Everyday,  We Heart This and Modly Chic.

I've been using skincare for as long as I can remember (Nan's influence, she used Pear's soap and a moisturiser), sunscreen since I was a teen (Mum), my first fragrance I remember was Avon, and in a bottle the shape of a horse; my first 'grown up' fragrance was Nuance by Coty. My first makeup after Mum's green & blue (very powdery) eyeshadow was at 16, an eyeshadow & lip colour palette.
My lifestyle these days (currently on a cattle station in SW Qld) pretty well precludes me from having the collection I'd like; small space, constantly moving. I cannot wear fragrance; my husband has, among other things, emphysema and other breathing difficulties. Anything fragranced is out. But, I can dream about and look at the pretties, and I do.

The idea for this came to me from a book. A biography. Of Marlon Brando. He wrote about his experience when he worked with a renowned stage actress who wore Russian Leather (she was 'older' and tried to seduce him). I had to find out what Russian Leather was, hit up Google, found a newer version, then something called Irish Leather, then an old favourite, the original Lolita Lempicka. And I was gone!

When it comes to makeup and fragrances, I am a bit of a magpie; if the bottle is pretty, I have to investigate. Hence the Lempicka. Other old favourites include Shalimar (Nan's 'special occassion' fragrance), Pure Poison (shiny!), Angel (for the bottle, not a fan of gourmands, except some vanillas) and LouLou Blue (not as 'harsh' as the original).

I am not, nor have I ever been, a fan of  celebrity fragrances. They all smell much the same to me; Britney's fragrances all smell the same, no matter what 'notes' they have, ditto J Lo & Beyonce. Another thing I have never liked is the cheap dupes - the $15 pharmacy versions - they smell alchoholy to me.

Cosmetics, on the other hand, I will take however I can get. I don't like bronzers or anything glittery/shimmery, rarely use rouge (I flush naturally anyway), have never mastered liquid eyeliner, and am yet to find a lipstick formula (or colour) I love; ditto a foundation formula (currently using a Youngblood mineral powder). Pencil eyeliners are my big weakness, closely followed by eyeliners. Guerlain Meteorites (pictured) are my ultimate cosmetic dream - I've lusted after them for decades, even though I'm not 100% sure what to do with them...

The thing that I am least likely to go bonkers for is the most important - skincare. I love me a good mask; I'd have a million if I could. And I'd use them all.

I love Clarins and Ole Henriksen, but my current routine is way to the other end of the luxury scale: homemade soap at night, followed by a home blend of sorbolene cream, olive oil, rice bran oil and grapeseed oil. My eye area gets treated with a blend of those three oils. Mornings, a facewasher as hot as I can handle, the sorbolene/oil blend, and sunscreen (currently Aldi). A weekly mask, often homemade, exfoliate manually once or twice a week (an exfoliating mitt used gently), and that's me.

So, that's what this blog is; a wishlist of all the things I'd love to have, if I ever had the money and space to have them, and the inclination to use them.  And that's where I fall down; the inclination. Well, the money and the inclination, but even if I had unlimited funds, I'd still lack the inclination. Let's face it, I'm a lazy magpie....